The governor of Malta () was an official who ruled Malta during the British colonial period between 1813 and 1964. This office replaced that of the civil commissioner. Upon the end of British rule and the creation of the State of Malta in 1964, this office was replaced by the governor-general, who represented the British monarch and not the government of the United Kingdom as did the governor. The office of Governor-General was itself abolished in 1974 and replaced by the post of president when Malta became a republic.

The governor The governor, appointed by the British monarch (on the advice of the prime minister), maintained executive power in Malta throughout British rule. He was head of the executive council and the pre-independence government of Malta.

The governor was the most powerful official in Malta.

The governor was initially supported by a lieutenant-governor. For example, from ca. 1813 to ca. 1820, Major-General Sir William Hutchinson served as lieutenant governor.Bulletins of State Intelligence, Etc., 1820, p. 203. London: R. G. Clarke. After the death of the Marquess of Hastings in 1826, the British government decided to downgrade the post of Governor to Lieutenant-Governor, with a reduced allowance. Sir Frederick Ponsonby was formally designated Lieutenant-Governor and Commander of the Malta Garrison.Malta Government Gazette 1826.

List of governors (1801–1964) Name Portrait Term of officeSir Thomas Maitland 5 October 1813 17 January 1824Francis Rawdon-Hastings, 1st Marquess of Hastings 22 March 1824 28 November 1826Alexander George Woodford 28 November 1826 15 February 1827Sir Frederick Ponsonby 15 February 1827 May 1835George Cardew May 1835 4 July 1836Thomas Evans 4 July 1836 30 September 1836Sir Henry Bouverie 1 October 1836 1843Sir Patrick Stuart 1843 October 1847Richard More O'Ferrall October 1847 13 May 1851Robert Ellice 13 May 1851 27 October 1851Sir William Reid 27 October 1851 1858Sir John Le Marchant 1858 15 November 1864Sir Henry Knight Storks 15 November 1864 15 May 1867Sir Patrick Grant 15 May 1867 3 June 1872Sir Charles van Straubenzee 3 June 1872 13 May 1878Sir Arthur Borton 10 June 1878 April 1884Sir Lintorn Simmons April 1884 28 September 1888 Sir Henry Torrens 28 September 1888 1 December 1889Sir Henry Augustus Smyth 1890 1893Sir Arthur Lyon Fremantle 1893 6 January 1899Sir Francis Grenfell (The 1st Baron Grenfell ) 6 January 1899 1903Sir Charles Clarke, 3rd Baronet, 1903 1907Sir Henry Grant 1907 1909Sir Leslie Rundle 1909 February 1915Paul Methuen, 3rd Baron Methuen February 1915 May 1919Herbert Plumer, 1st Baron Plumer 1919 1924Sir Walter Congreve 29 June 1924 28 February 1927Sir John Du Cane 28 February 1927 1931Sir David Campbell June 1931 12 March 1936Sir Charles Bonham-Carter 12 March 1936 1940Sir William Dobbie April 1940 May 1942John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort May 1942 26 September 1944Sir Edmond Schreiber 26 September 1944 10 July 1946Sir Francis Douglas 10 July 1946 16 September 1949Sir Gerald Creasy 16 September 1949 3 August 1954Sir Robert Laycock 3 August 1954 13 February 1959Sir Guy Grantham 13 February 1959 2 July 1962Sir Maurice Dorman 2 July 1962 21 September 1964

Lieutenant governors of Malta

Public Secretary Arthur Baynes 1801 Alexander Macauley 1801 Samuel Taylor Coleridge 1804–1805 E. F. Chapman 1805 Rev. Francis Laing 1811–1813

Chief Secretary Rev. Francis Laing 1813–1815 Alexander Wood 1815–1817 Richard Plasket 1817–1824 Colonel Sir Frederick Hankey 1824–1837 Sir Hector Greig 1837–1847 Henry Lushington 1847–1855 Sir Victor Houlton 1855–1883 Sir Walter Hely-Hutchinson 1883–1884

Lieutenant Governor Sir Walter Hely-Hutchinson 1884–1889 (as Lieutenant Governor) Sir Gerald Strickland 1889–1902 (as Chief Secretary) Sir Edward Merewether 1902–1910 (as Lieutenant Governor and Chief Secretary)

Chief Secretary Major John Clauson 1911–1914 Horace Byatt 1914–1916 Sir William C. F. Robertson 1917–1925 Sir Thomas Alexander Vans Best 1925–1930 Sir Harry Luke 1930–1938 John Adams Hunter 1938–1940 Sir Edward St. John Jackson 1940–1943 Sir David Campbell 1943–1952 Trafford Smith 1952–1959 Archibald Campbell 1959–1962

Flag of the governor

See also History of Malta Timeline of Maltese history List of Maltese monarchs List of heads of state of Malta List of prime ministers of Malta

References